The Regional Secretary for Health highlighted in Santa Cruz da Graciosa the good coverage of the Azorean population with nutrition and smoking cessation consultations.
 
"We are the only region of the country where there is a nutritionist in all health centres and where smoking cessation consultations are being held on all islands," said Rui Luís.
 
The Secretary for Health spoke at the Santa Cruz Health Centre after having participated in a Screening on smoking habits, body mass index, physical activity habits, hypertension and diabetes.
 
The government official stressed the importance of screening to reduce obesity and tobacco consumption in the Azores.
 
"These screenings are in line with our global prevention strategy, which we want to continue to implement in the Region because, by preventing today, we will certainly have better health in the future," said Rui Luís.
 
The screening began on June 6 and runs for 10 days at Santa Cruz Health Centre. It is being held under the Occupational Health Weeks of Graciosa Island and is aimed at workers from public and private entities.
 
Overall, the initiative covers 326 workers form public entities, including PSP (Public Security Police), Santa Cruz Town Hall, EDA (Electricity Company), Social Security and Fire Brigade.
 
Developed by Graciosa Island Health Unit, this screening will be extended to the population in general in future initiatives.
 
Following the screenings, risk situations are referred to consultations for hypertension and diabetes, nutrition, smoking cessation or respiratory diseases.
 
The Occupational Health Weeks of Graciosa Island also aim to raise awareness to the Programme for Prevention and Control of Infections and Resistance to Antimicrobials - PPCIRA.